Description
Book SynopsisDaniel Wickberg traces the cultural history of the concept from its British origins as a way to explore new conceptions of the self and social order in modern America.
Trade ReviewUsing a vast range of materials (jokes, jests, and gags) and writers of every ilk (Carlyle, Chaplin, Freud, Twain), Wickberg charts the development of the modern sense of humor. The book suggests a great deal about American society and its values, and leads readers to recognize the socially constructed nature of reality. Because of its intriguing topic and engaging writing, this book will interest a broad variety of readers—from undergraduates through faculty—in many disciplines. Highly recommended.
* Choice *
Wickberg adds a new dimension to our knowledge of contemporary cultural sensibility. He also does what surely all good cultural historians do; he redraws the boundaries of what lies within history, and makes us look again at social habits and assumptions that we had perhaps taken for granted.
* Times Literary Supplement *
